CLARK FREEPORT – Over 20,000 people, mostly students, have expressed interest to the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) to act as volunteer helpers during the 30th Southeast Asian Games SEAG).
Phisgoc said the number “exceeded expectations,” even as it slated for the volunteers their first meeting with them Friday at the ASEAN Convention Center here. The meeting would pave the way for their training as helpers in the games this yearend.
“Since the volunteers program was launched last April, 36 partner institutions, mostly universities and colleges in Metro Manila, Northern and Central Luzon, have partnered with Phisgoc and committed more than 6,000 volunteers from their respective schools to join this momentous sports event,” Phisgoc said in a statement.
It noted that “out of 20,686 who have expressed their interest to join the volunteers program, 14,683 applied through the official SEAG volunteers’ online portals, which include 2,960 foreign applicants while 6,003 were committed by their respective schools.”
With the conduct of 56 sports with 530 events for this year’s SEAG, the Phisgoc needs 9,000 volunteers to assist and support the different functional areas working to spearhead the success of this highly anticipated sporting event. Phisgoc chief operating officer Ramon Suzara said that for the Metro Manila events, they need 3,150 volunteers.
Clark and Subic need 2,250 and 1,980 support workforce respectively, while the other clusters will require 1,620 volunteers.
Deputy director for volunteers program Chris Tiu said that the Phisgoc “is grateful and overwhelmed with the resounding support from their online applicants, partner institutions and foreign volunteers.”
“Based on our experience in the recruitment stage, we felt that the spirit of volunteerism and nationalism was really very strong. We hope to sustain them during and until the end of the games on December,” said Tiu.
Tiu also reported that their team has finished the assessment of online applicants, training of trainers for Clark and Subic and Metro Manila last month.
“During the interviews, there were applicants who came as far as Marawi and Cagayan and an OFW who came from Singapore. There were teachers, community workers, professionals and others who brought their entire family to sign up as volunteers,” Tiu recalled.
He added, “We hope to meet more volunteers and anticipate to hear more heart-warming stories of volunteerism as well as pledge to serve our country and for the success of the 30th SEAG.”
